Sedgemoor

Sedgemoor's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 110,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Sedgemoor increased by 8.2%, from just under 106,000 to 115,000.

The addition of about 8,700 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Sedgemoor was home to, on average, 1.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Sedgemoor

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Sedgemoor increased by three years, from 41 to 44 years.

This remote area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 4,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 13% of people in Sedgemoor are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Sedgemoor by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Sedgemoor

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Sedgemoor, but at a slower rate than across the South West.

In Sedgemoor, the proportion of single people increased from 23% in 2001 to 27% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 27% to 31%.

Across the South West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in Sedgemoor fell from 57% to 52%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 13%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Sedgemoor

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 27% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 27% in 2001

The number of people in Sedgemoor that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 15,000 in 2001 to just over 30,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 27% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South West (from 17% to 30%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Sedgemoor that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 82,000 in 2001 to just over 74,000 in 2011 (from 78% to 65%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 7,800 to just under 8,800 (from 7.3% to 7.7%).

About 580 people (0.3%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 290 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in Sedgemoor increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Sedgemoor by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Sedgemoor

The percentage of Sedgemoor residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% to 4.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.1%, while the percentage of Sedgemoor residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 3.0% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

In Sedgemoor, the proportion of private renting increased from 8.2% in 2001 to 15% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 11% to 17%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11% to 17%.

The rate of social housing in Sedgemoor remained close to 12%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 77% to 71%.

Private renting in Sedgemoor increased by 6.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Sedgemoor, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Sedgemoor

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 98% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 98% in 2001

The number of people in Sedgemoor from the White ethnic groups increased from about 100,000 in 2001 to just over 110,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South West (from 98% to 95%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Sedgemoor from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 490 in 2001 to about 870 in 2011 (from 0.5% to 0.8%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 440 to just under 740 (from 0.4% to 0.6%).

About 140 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, down from about 150 in 2001 (0.1%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Sedgemoor remained close to 98%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Sedgemoor by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Sedgemoor working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 11% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Sedgemoor decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Sedgemoor, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Sedgemoor residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.1% to 5.5% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Sedgemoor residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Sedgemoor decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Sedgemoor, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Sedgemoor, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.7% to 8.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (36%) households had a married couple, compared with 39% in 2001. The percentage of households in Sedgemoor, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.4% to 11%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Sedgemoor residents that were unemployed increased from 2.7% to 3.6% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 52%, while the percentage of Sedgemoor residents that were self-employed increased from 10% to 12%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Sedgemoor residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.4% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Sedgemoor remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Sedgemoor by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Sedgemoor with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.7% to 8.9% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of households in Sedgemoor without children increased from 63% to 64%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.4% in 2001 to 8.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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